Women play a vital role in passing on the faith to the next generation. But when 99% of Catholic churches have a male preacher this Sunday in a world where 50% of the Catholic population are women, it’s time for our daughters and granddaughters — and sons and grandsons — to see us naming out Read more
Questions about young people and how to engage with them were the focus of Pope Francis’s conversation with Hungarian Jesuits last month. “How do we best engage with young people?” he was asked. “For me the key word is testimony,” Francis responded. “Without testimony, without witnessing, nothing can be done. “You end up like that Read more
Anyone paying attention to religion in America has heard about the trend, especially among young Americans, toward disaffiliation with institutions, including the Catholic Church. So I arrived at a recent talk on “Seeking Common Ground Across Generations” prepared for dire and depressing statistics. But I walked away with hope, thanks to speaker Ellen Koneck, executive Read more
Speaking to thousands of young Italians at St Peter’s Square last week, Pope Francis urged them to seize life. Have the courage to follow Jesus despite the fears and insecurities you might have, Francis said. He began his speech after riding around in his popemobile greeting youth before the event started, listening to testimonies from Read more
A new global survey shows the depth of anxiety many young people are feeling today about climate change. A majority of them report feeling fearful of the future, sorrowful and doomed. The Bath University-led survey questioned young people from 10 countries. Its focus concentrated specifically on young people’s emotional reactions to climate change. Claiming to Read more
Researchers are warning religious leaders, teachers and parents there isn’t going to be a simple “back to normal” approach for young people after the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather, we should all be looking for ways to help them experience “the new normal.” That’s the argument from Springtide Research Institute, which surveyed 2,500 members of Generation Z Read more
A New Zealand religious leader is calling on members of his congregation to focus on what is necessary for life rather than being caught up with pious denials; particularly during Lent. He says he was cheered by a recent reading at Mass where a group is bewailing the fact that their “good deeds” go unnoticed Read more
Lockdown affected wellbeing for many people, especially young ones, an Otago University study has found. The study undertaken during lockdown is providing a glimpse into New Zealand’s mental health. Young people in particular found it hard-going. The study results were reported in a research paper,’Psychological distress, anxiety, family violence, suicidality, and wellbeing in New Zealand Read more
Gregorian chants, renaissance choral music and incense wafting from a metallic censer. In an era when Kanye West runs gospel-inspired services, and megachurches, like Hillsong, release chart-topping hits, these ancient Christian traditions are, unexpectedly, having a moment. And they’re not just resonating with older generations, either. Younger people are flocking to late-night Latin Mass — Read more
Climate change, water resources, inculturation and indigenous practices were among the topics discussed during the Amazon Synod’s Sunday afternoon session. A general summary of the topics discussed during the closed-door session has been published. Some of the discussions focused on ordaining married men. It was described as a “legitimate need” but one which “cannot affect Read more